1. Asociacion Nacional de Indigenous Salvadorenas (ANIS) Chief's House Bombed
In the most recent of a series of death threats and human rights violations
against ANIS, the house of ANIS leader, Margarito Esquino, was destroyed by
a hand grenade on May 1st, 1996.
On March 12, 1996, the ANIS office was raided and the National Civil Police
took the brothers Rafael Arturo and Armando Antonio Perez into custody.
Both were tortured.
ANIS and its leaders have been receiving numberous death threats for years
now. The majority of the threats have come from members of Federal
Deputies of the Arena Party, specifically, Renato Perez, Fito Varela, and
Mr. Jorge Alberto Ruiz Camacho.
The Chief of the "Tres Naciones Indigenas," (Nahuatl, Lencas, and Mayas)
Don Adrian Esquino, and his family continue to receive death threats from
these same people.
The communities of Las Hojas (site of the 1983 massacre of 74 people) and
San Ramon are constantly facing eviction threats.
On January 21st, 1996, ANIS member Maximiliano Bran Garcia was threatened
by five armed men with painted faces who came to his house at 1 am. The
men, who did not identify themselves, told Maximiliano that there would
soon be bloodshed on the streets of Las Hojas like in 1983 (when 74 people
were massacred) and that they were going to kill Adrian Esquino Liasco.
The Salvadoran Supreme Court has disregarded Indigenous land titles and is
ordering the eviction of the peaceful Nahuat farming cooperative of Las
Hojas. The 1983 murders of 74 people at Las Hojas were never brought to
justice. The Supreme Court has denied the Recurso de Amparo requested by
ANIS on behalf of its members of the Las Hojas cooperative who are facing
eviction from their lands. The Ministry of Agriculture, through the
Departamento de Asociaciones Cooperativas, has legitimized a small group of
people who were never residents of Las Hojas, so that they are now in
position to become the new owners. The individuals responsible for this
act are Jorge Alberto Ruiz Camacho and Arena legislators Renato Perez and
Adolfo Varela.
Forced removal is planned for 2600 Indigenous people in the community of
Bola de Monte, where the Salvadoran Institute of Tourism wants to build a
tourist resort. Again, an Indigenous land title is being disregarded and
human rights are being violated. The Indigenous have nowhere to go.
Please send letters and faxes demanding that ANIS members' human rights be
protected and that all criminal acts against ANIS be investigated and
punished, that orders for the eviction of Las Hojas and Bola De Monte be
repealed, and that Indigenous land titles be respected.
______(2)____________addresses_________________
Please send faxes and letters to the following people:
Dr. Armando Calderon Sol
President of the Republic of El Salvador
Casa Presidencial
San Salvador, El Salvador
FAX: 011-503-271-0950
Minister Mario Acosta Oertel
Minister of the Interior
FAX: 011-503-271-2484
Attorney General's Office for Human Rights
Dra. Victoria Marina Velasquez de Aviles
Procuradora para la defensa de los derechos humanos de El Salvador
Edificio Amsa No. 535
San Salvador, El Salvador
with copies to:
ANIS
Calle Obisbo Marroquin
Oficina Aneigua Aduana Ferrea 5-1
Sonsonante, El Salvador
Sr Jefe de redaccion
La Prensa Grafica (newspaper)
3a. Calle Poniente No. 130
San Salvador, El Salvador
_____(3)_________Sample Letter___________________
Date
Address
Dear
I am, writing to express my grave concern over the situation of the leaders
of Asociacion Nacional de Indigenas Salvadorenos (ANIS), and especially the
Chief, Adrian Esquino Lisco, who has been threatened with death by members
of the ARENA party, federal deputies, and the police.
On May 1st, 1996, the house of ANIS leader Margarito Esquino was bombed.
On March 12, 1996, the ANIS office was raided and the National Civil Police
took the brothers Rafael Arturo and Armando Antonio Perez into custody.
Both were tortured.
We understand that the Supreme Court has denied the Recurso de Amparo
requested by ANIS on behalf of its members of the Las Hojas cooperative who
are facing eviction from their lands. ANIS has informed us that the
Ministry of Agriculture, through the Departamento de Asociaciones
Cooperativas, has legitimized a small group of people who were never
residents of Las Hojas, to become the new owners. The individuals
responsible for this act are Jorge Alberto Ruiz Camacho and Arena
legislators Renato Perez and Adolfo Varela.
I urge you to please do all possible to ensure that ANIS members' human
rights be protected. Please also provide protection for ANIS Chief, Adrian
Esquino Lisco. I also urge you to please investigate and punish all
criminal acts against ANIS (including the 1983 massacre at Las Hojas).
Please also ensure that orders for the eviction of Las Hojas and Bola de
Monte be repealed, and that Indigenous land titles be respected.
Thank you very much.
Yours respectfully,
.......
-- South and Meso American Indian Rights Center (SAIIC) P.O. Box 28703 Oakland CA, 94604 Phone: (510)834-4263 Fax: (510)834-4264 Email: saiic@igc.apc.org Office: 1714 Franklin Street, 3rd Floor, OaklandHome Page: http://www.igc.apc.org/saiic/saiic.html
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